Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK -- Reflex Marine has developed the Frog-6, a higher-capacity version of the original, three-person Frog (Frog-3), for moving up to six people at a time by crane. The first Frog-6 units are being used in Indonesia. Reflex Marine is contracted to supply four to China, one to Angola, and three of the low-temperature version to Sakhalin Island in the next month.
The new Frog has been developed to reduce the number of crane operations and decrease the time taken for crew transfers. The frame and seating arrangement has been expanded to accommodate six people. The suspension system has been enhanced - comprising three peripheral springs, hydraulic dampers, and larger feet to cushion impacts and protect passengers.
The Frog-6 has bench-style seating; as a result, its footprint is only fractionally larger than that of the Frog-3, allowing for ease of storage and landing on vessel decks. The bench seating also speeds up the process of securing a stretcher into the Frog in the event of a MedEvac scenario. In 'marine ambulance' mode, the Frog-6 can carry a stretcher and up to two accompanying passengers. The low-temperature version of the Frog-6 is capable of transferring people in temperatures down to -40° C.
The product's feet and suspension system provide protection against heavy landings, the frame protects against lateral impacts, and the seats and seat harnesses virtually eliminate the risk of falling. The buoyancy enables the Frog-6 to self-right and float if immersed in water. All Frogs are supplied with a user manual, an instructional DVD, and training materials.
The Frog-6 has undergone a rigorous design and verification program, including advanced computerized stress modelling, a comprehensive design review, immersion testing, and impact testing. The Frog-6 is manufactured to ISO 9001:2000 standards and Type Approval has been granted by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
"The Frog-3 is widely used around the world and has raised the standards for safe and efficient crane transfer operations," says Duncan Cuthill, a Reflex Marine project manager. "Our clients wanted to speed up their crew transfer operations, but without compromising the protection given to their people. In response, we have developed the Frog-6."
9/21/2007
